NICOLLET — The Nicollet Public School Board denied the Petition of Landowners for Detachment and Annexation from One School District to Another by a vote of 4-to-2 at their meeting on Wednesday.

Pastor Kyle Madson and his wife, Alicia Madson, attended the meeting on Wednesday to ask the board to reconsider the petition. It refers to the 14.58 acres of land where Norseland Lutheran Church furnishes a home for Pastor Madson and his family at 37769 State Hwy. 22, St. Peter.

Approving the resolution would release the property that is now under District 507 and change it to District 508 St. Peter. Currently it is “tax exempt” and there is no tax benefit/loss to the district; however, that could change if the property would be sold and become taxable.

This was first brought to the school board at their March 2024 meeting. Alicia Madson also attended the October meeting of the school board to request them to reconsider the petition. No action was taken by the board at those two meetings.

“We realize that it a bit unprecedented to ask a school board to give up land to another school district. We know we are asking a big favor of you, but you should have no ramifications for doing so,” Alicia Madson said. “We are blessed to live in Minnesota where we can home school our kids and participate in public school sports. We feel it is very important that our kids are in sports to fully develop their whole character. Living where we are, it is much more feasible to have all six kids in sports if we can do it through St. Peter. Distance wise, it cuts out many miles.”

Pastor Madson said, “We recognize your duty to your constituents as elected members of a board and to do well by them educationally speaking as well as financially. We are confident that our unique request is not now, and confident that it will not be in the foreseeable future, cause financial jeopardy to your constituents. It is tax exempt property and is owned by two financially healthy congregations. They are planning to make about $300,000 worth of maintenance and capital improvements to the parsonage. There is no indication whatsoever that this house will be sold to be privately owned.”

The school board members’ discussion followed and generated different opinions.

Ashley Black made a motion to approve the Petition for Detachment and Annexation. Nick Thom supported the motion after he said he had a change of heart because he does not feel that even if there were other people living in the parsonage, the chance of the students attending public education is unlikely.

Mike Slater did not support the motion. He did not want to give up land because it was uncertain what will happen in the future.

Scot Osborne agreed with Slater and pointed out that there is church property in Nicollet that was sold and is now having apartment buildings built on that property.

Adam Erickson added that he has gone round and round on this issue. He understands that the property is tax exempt, but you know that the residents of the parsonage will change and maybe they will want to send their children to Nicollet. He feels St. Peter would not give the land back to Nicollet.

Adam Erickson acknowledged it is unfortunate for the Madsons to have to travel far for sports for their children; however, many parents do. He personally has children in hockey at New Prague, wrestling at Lake Crystal, and the sports at Nicollet.

The motion to approved the petition failed.

Election Results

The terms of School Board Members Ashley Black, Mike Slater and Nick Thom expire in 2024. Ashley Black was re-elected. Matthew Cabanilla and Abbi Carleton were newly elected. The school board members were elected to four-year terms.

Superintendent/Principal Report

Principal Nancy Remmert presented Superintendent Robin Courrier’s report. Courrier was not at the meeting.

The Personal Device and Cell Phone policy will be presented at the Jan. 8, 2025, board meeting for a second reading and review. Courrier would like the newly appointed Board members to decide on the final policy. The final reading will be at the February 12, 2025, meeting prior to the March mandate for the policy.

The Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) conference is Jan. 16 and 17, 2025. The school board members and Courrier are registered for the conference. The MSBA is offering new Board member training on Jan. 14 and 15, 2025. Courrier is working with the newly elected Board members to see if they are available to attend the training.

Lee Ann Johnson was hired to finish the year as a second grade teacher. Tom Murphy has been assigned to Elementary Intervention Specialist for the remainder of the year. Continuing to build a substitute call list. There is one full-time para position still available for the 2024-25 school year.

The auditors and School District Business Manager Jim Freihammer are completing the FY ’24 financial audit. They will present the audit to the school board on Dec. 11, 2024.

Remmert continued with the Principal’s Report. “It has been busy with lots of fun activities. The students and teachers are settling in,” she said.

There was an FFA ditch clean-up on Nov. 7; Junior High Knowledge Bowl events on Oct. 29 and Nov. 8. There will be a FFA Leadership Rally on Nov. 17, and Turkey Bingo on Nov. 26.

There was a Choose To Be Nice Recognition Breakfast in October to celebrate the nine students who were chosen by their peers as students who model the behaviors of kindness.

“This is really a nice way to celebrate our students,” Remmert said.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are Nov. 14, 3:30-7:30 p.m. and Nov. 15, 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

The Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) continue student engagement with the Choose To Be Nice for kindergarten through sixth grade. The 7th-12th grade are working on Seven Mindsets. They celebrated World Kindness Day on November 13. Teachers and students are engaging in a variety of activities to practice and spread kindness throughout the school community. There will be end of quarter celebrations.

The teachers reviewed the following during the Early Release on Oct. 16th. For elementary they reviewed MCA math data and began identifying Priority Standards in Reading and Math. For middle school, they reviewed work completion and the school’s behavior procedures. They also began identifying Priority Standards in each content area. For high school, they reviewed work completion and the student handbook with a focus on attendance.

“We are seeing great success in students’ completion and getting their work done on time,” said Remmert.